This article ranked among’s SKI’s most-read of 2023. You’ll want more than Google Maps if you’re coming from Salt Lake City to Alta in a storm–namely intel, patience, and a pee bottle. I was visiting Salt Lake City for a trade show when I heard that Little Cottonwood Canyon was expected to get 10 inches…
Connoisseurs of roller coasters know that rides feel wilder at night. In the dark, our brains stop receiving the visual cues that help us stay balanced, so movement feels destabilizing enough that most of us teeter like drunkards whenever we simply close our eyes. But wobbling through life felt like defeat to Brenda Mosby, who…
Pivot has long made it a priority to build lightweight bikes — and not just for cross-country racing models. Pivot’s Mach 5.5 Carbon weighs about 28 pounds (ultralight builds actually duck 27 pounds) while delivering 160 mm of front suspension and 140 mm in the rear. That’s an impressive squish-to-weight ratio. It earned the Mach…
After designing some 50 ski models for Line over his 22-year run as a sponsored athlete, Eric Pollard had an epiphany: The world didn’t need any more skis. “There are a lot of great options out there already,” he explains. Pollard himself helped launch many of them. As a collaborative designer for Line, he pioneered…
Swanky hotels in Moab are elevating the town’s backcountry vibe, but that’s not all that’s new in Utah’s top adventure hub. Surrounded by the Southwest’s most impressive red rock scenery, Moab has long been a crossroads for gritty climbers, bikers, paddlers and hikers who rank a simple shower among life’s luxuries. So it’s fitting that…
The first time I ate at Taco Party, in downtown Grand Junction, I felt obligated to choose one of the canvas-shaded outdoor tables lining the sidewalk. My shirt was salt-stained and smelly after my morning hike, and a gritty crust of sunscreen covered my flushed face. I had no business mingling among the deodorized couples…
Jake Lah, the founder of DAC Poles, may dislike camping—but his genius with aluminum has turned him into the wizard behind many of the world’s best outdoor shelters. Walking into Dongah Aluminum Corporation (DAC) feels like stepping inside the lobby of a grand hotel: The soaring two-story ceiling creates plenty of space around the large-scale…
To become more sustainable, the outdoor industry should make less gear. But can brands battle their own bloat? My gear closet is an embarrassment of riches, and I’m not the only one with an overabundance problem. When the outdoor industry last convened for Outdoor Retailer in Denver, its skis, snowboards, pants, boots, jackets, sleeping bags,…
An Adventurer’s Guide to What to Do and Where to Stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy The 1956 Winter Olympics were what first launched Cortina d’Ampezzo into the global spotlight, as the games’ first-ever live television broadcasts highlighted the stunning beauty of the mountain village and the sharp, sheer-walled limestone peaks of the surrounding Dolomite Mountains.…
Snow-sports lovers, it’s time to give your bathroom an upgrade I’ve fought hard to keep my living spaces free of ski gear (and bikes, and fishing equipment). It’s a battle that I’ve waged for some 20 years, ever since I moved to a ski town where shoebox-sized apartments command $1,800 in rent and living rooms…
Frontier Airlines’ handling of pandemic-related flight cancellations triggered outrage and spurred appeals for reform. Yet the Denver-based airline expects increasing demand for what it calls “Low Fares Done Right.” Will passengers who believe they were defrauded return to the ultra-low-cost airline? By late March of last year, Darcy Lundstrom knew she wouldn’t be boarding any…
Our ten-year-old ripper tests the pedal-assisted Woom UP 6 to find out Rarely has a piece of test gear caused so much controversy in our household. Ski boots, bikes, fly rods, camp showers—all manner of gear lands on my doorstep for review, and my husband and ten-year-old daughter greet every item with curiosity. But unboxing…
Pedal-assist makes steep climbs and technical terrain less intimidating. Bikers are getting charged up. Barely a year ago, e-mountain bikes were a curiosity on backcountry trails—now they’re here to stay. Twenty-five percent of all dollars spent on mountain bikes in 2020 went to models equipped with a motor and battery that boost pedaling power. That’s…
If you’re worried about how the current campsite and rental-car shortages are going to impact your summer travels, consider these options. We’ve rounded up our favorite companies in six cities, plus the itineraries to test them out on. This summer is set to be another huge season for camping and road trips. Already many places…
If you’re looking for a huge summer adventure that doesn’t involve crowds or international travel, consider climbing the highest mountain in one these seven states. Trust us, they deliver the goods. CALIFORNIA MOUNT WHITNEY, 14,505 FEET Even if Whitney weren’t the highest summit in the Sierra (and the contiguous United States), it might still rank…
Snowmobiling turns social distancing into a thrill. For crowd-free winter fun, check out these three sled neck meccas. NORTHWOODS, WISCONSIN Let the rest of the U.S. worship cars: Northern Wisconsin swaps out steering wheels for handlebars come winter, when residents ride snowmobiles to stores and restaurants—and gas stations preserve snow around their pumps to offer…
New technologies and better materials have enabled a few willing brands to make bikes with big wheels and extra-small frames feel nimble and fast Ten years ago, when I first rode a mountain bike with 29-inch wheels, I hated it. A lot of cyclists were hyping the performance benefits of the larger wheel size. But…
Colorado’s Yampa River is one of the best trout streams in the Rockies—and locals are working to keep it that way. It was in May, when melting snow turns the Yampa River into fire hose, that the water almost took my daughter. She was two, and we were walking on the paved bike path that…
The multi-tool as we know it didn’t exist before Tim Leatherman invented foldable pliers—and that was just the beginning. Like microbreweries and chocolate shops, the Leatherman factory in Portland, Oregon, offers public tours. Visitors come to watch silver ribbons of steel cut into intricate shapes by a massive press that booms like a giant’s footsteps,…
This sprawling review (co-written with Ryan Stuart) evaluated 2020’s new jackets to select the seven best models—including “Gear of the Year.” Take Cover Layers to keep you moving no matter the weather. Black Diamond Highline Stretch, $299 Waterproofing, breathability, durability, packability, comfort, sustainability—usually, you’re lucky if your jacket has a few of these attributes. The Highline…
Phasing out old infrastructure creates opportunities for Coloradans to envision futuristic ways of moving, managing and treating water In 1937, teams of men swung their pickaxes into the Colorado sod just north of Golden to build Ralston Dam and bury veins of pipe that would carry water south toward the fledgling city of Denver. That…
From elk to bighorn sheep, our valley’s wildlife population is crashing. Are trail users, residents, and visitors ready to make sacrifices to protect the iconic animals they profess to love? Insomniacs count sheep. Craig Wescoatt counts elk. And lately the numbers have been keeping him up at night. Driven by a love for wildlife that…
Around the world, countries have created new national parks to preserve the planet’s last pristine bastions. Early adopters can experience a kind of solitude that’s impossible to come by elsewhere. Patagonia National Park, Chile The Lagunas Altas Trail is one of those ridgeline hikes that makes you feel like an eagle in flight—or in my…
Hiking is one of summer’s sweetest pleasures, and the right gear makes the miles fly by. Here’s the footwear, packs and apparel you’ll want for summit bids and seaside rambles FOOTWEAR HOKA ONE ONE STINSON MID GORE-TEX Heavy backpacks and rocky trails can punish feet, but not if they’re cradled by the super-plush cushioning of…
Is Fox’s Electronic Suspension Worth Thousands? Our writer will never go back The next time you shop for a mountain bike, you’ll need to decide if you want intelligent suspension that senses the terrain every three milliseconds and optimizes performance accordingly. Fox unveiled such magic in 2019 with its Live Valve system, which does what all…
This sprawling review evaluated 2020’s new Alpine ski boots to select the six best models. You’ll Fit Right In Control made comfortable. Lange LX 100, $500 The 100-flex LX brings Lange’s race-bred technology to intermediate skiers. Its 102-millimeter last is generous, but nothing is dumbed down about the Dual Core shell, which sandwiches soft plastic…
Colorado is in the midst of a trail-building bonanza. But research has revealed an inconvenient truth: The humans recreating on these trails are negatively impacting wildlife populations throughout the state. Is there a way to spend time in the backcountry responsibly without endangering the state’s fauna? One morning this past August, I pedaled my mountain…
One company thinks it can solve the global algae crisis by making sneakers from sludge On a morning in November 2017, while the residents of Lakeland, Florida, headed off to work, a small team of engineers parked what looked like an enormous lava lamp on the banks of Lake Bonnet. The ten-by-eight-foot water tank sat…
The ultimate list of road-tested, kid-approved strollers, play yards, car seats, diaper totes, and more that will make travel with your brood so much easier. Experienced travelers know that when it comes to baggage, more isn’t necessarily better—and that holds true for trips with kids, too. Bringing along the full equipage of booster seats, strollers,…
With two nearby national parks, Moab, Utah, is a perfect hub for an outdoor family vacation Blazing red rock formations and watery canyons make Moab, Utah, a playground for all ages—but particularly for kids, who delight in this region’s abundant opportunities to climb, splash, dig and explore. With a good sun hat and plenty of…
Aspen throws a party for its unsung master of Bauhaus architecture and design. The fact that there is more to Aspen than celebrities and designer skiwear is common knowledge; indeed, with its world-class art museum and influential art fair, this Colorado town has emerged as a serious cultural powerhouse. But one highlight of Aspen’s aesthetic…
Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson and Sedona get all the love, but Prescott is an enchanting hamlet that’s stayed frozen in time Prescott is in love with its past, and that’s not a bad thing. No garish chains surround the wedding-cake courthouse and grassy central square, which still serves as this Arizona city’s de facto front porch.…
I could feel the buzz as soon as I boarded the bus linking Crested Butte to its ski resort. Roof-high piles of snow flanked every downtown doorway and parking lot, and storms had dumped 30 more inches on Colorado’s Elk Mountains earlier in the week. So I expected leftovers that morning, but the skier sitting…
There’s always a reason to visit U.S. National Parks, but these four destinations, all within easy reach of big cities, are offering new ways to experience their treasures. 1. Arches National Park Start from: Salt Lake City (3.75 hours) or Denver (5.5 hours) What’s there: Red rock spires and more than 2,000 sandstone arches Why now: Expanded monthly…
What you need to bring in a lunker A. Patagonia Middle Fork Packable waders $349 Though extremely durable, these 1.6-pound waterproof-breathable waders scrunch down to the size of a camp pillow, so they don’t overwhelm your pack on treks to remote waterways. B. Ross Evolution LTX reel $385 Ross modernized the classic Evolution LT with a larger…
Why are France’s most famous sunglasses making a comeback? The answer is perfectly clear. Meaux knows how to wait for perfection. Located 25 miles northeast of Paris, the city took 400 years to build its cathedral. Meaux’s celebrated Brie cheese is known to get better with age. And every pair of Vuarnet sunglasses—also made in…
As the bonefish bulleted away with my line, my heartbeat seemed to lurch into fast-forward. Here in the Marls, a 300-square-mile expanse of tropical flats off the west coast of the Bahamas’ Great Abaco Island, the fish must’ve sensed that it could run forever. I let the reel whir until the line slackened slightly, then…
24 bars, pubs, nightclubs, and publicans that give our ski villages their distinctive flavors and buzz “Don’t bother with churches, government buildings, or city squares,” Ernest Hemingway, that most prolific of drinkers, once opined. “If you want to know about a culture, spend a night in its bars.” That sage advice applies equally to the…
The High Lonesome Ranch in western Colorado is big enough to be a national park, but its owners, led by Paul Vahldiek Jr., don’t take their cues from the government. Instead, they’ve developed a unique approach to land management that could revolutionize the conservation movement for both private and public open spaces. The field looks…
Snoozy no more, Steamboat’s base area is rekindling its playful spirit with a new coaster and nightlife—plus big plans for the future. The afternoon sun droops toward the roofs surrounding Steamboat’s Gondola Square, where hundreds of skiers are milling around on the bricks. Some are churning to the blasts of brass and bass issued by…
“Star Trek” ran as a three-page feature story. Click here to see the online version with photos. Lack of light pollution has made Utah’s Canyonlands National Park among the best places on Planet Earth to witness the final frontier A shooting star flashes across the night sky, but I’m out of wishes. I’ve already ticked off…
An all-female team takes on the world at the Los Sueños Triple Crown The Pacific Ocean parted obligingly before Geaux Fly on that January afternoon as Amanda Sabin stood at the stern, scanning Costa Rica’s indigo plain for fish that refused to rise. These waters off Los Sueños are famous for their primordial numbers of…
Our team of testers ran in 42 new sports bras and selected 15 favorites that deliver reliable stability with comfort, breathability, and flair. DISTANCE PROS Streamlined bras that fit like a second skin. Zensah Seamless Running Sports Bra This minimalist pullover doesn’t chafe, trap sweat, or call attention to itself. It simply provides low-fanfare support…
Forty years ago, an ordinary runner invented what she couldn’t find in stores: a sports bra. Since then, pioneering women have continued to design better and better models, enabling females of all body types to join running’s ranks. “Here’s your jockbra, ladies!” It sounded like the kind of catcall a woman might hear on the…
River advocates recently secured nearly $8 million to revitalize a roughly 30-mile stretch of the Colorado River headwaters. It’s the largest such restoration ever attempted on the Centennial State’s signature waterway and it required nothing short of a miracle to pull off: a truce between sworn enemies. In the fall of 2002, while his fellow…
I’ve eaten bivalves in France, on the Chesapeake Bay, along Florida’s Gulf Coast, and in trendy Seattle oyster bars where I’ve blown my meager paychecks on the ephemeral pleasures of Washington Kumamotos and Quilcenes. During those moments, an oyster’s raw, creamy brine is the only sensation I know, and it’s bigger than mere food: It’s…
Chef Michael Beary heads to the Mexican state of Oaxaca to find–and revive–some of the world’s finest chiles. When Michael Beary opened Zocalito, his Oaxacan restaurant in Aspen, Colorado, more than 15 years ago, he quickly found that many of the ingredients he needed weren’t available in the United States. Even in Mexico, some heritage…
Avalanche forecasting pioneer Art Judson doesn’t just study these powerful snow slides–he worships them. Now that’s a beautiful avalanche path,” said Art Judson as he gazed at the wallpaper on his computer, which depicted Hahns Peak split by a broad white stripe. It was 2007, shortly after I’d first met Jud, as his friends and…
A new art museum, farm-focused restaurants, and on-trend indie shops make this storied ski town about more than Gucci and Gulfstreams. Art-museum makeover A good deal of controversy still lingers over the incongruously huge, blocky building that Pritzker Prize–winning Japanese architect ShigeruBan had designed for the formerly diminutive Aspen Art Museum. But three things are…
Mexico’s once-sleepy Puerto Escondido is poised for prime time—and a new highway promises to let everyone in on the secret. When it opens in 2018, the Oaxaca coastal highway will shrink the drive from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido from seven hours down to two. Go before that floodgate opens to savor a swath of Pacific…
This article was a finalist for a 2016 Maggie Award for Best Feature. A tragic crash during a slopestyle competition last winter left Kailyn Forsberg physically shattered. Now, it’s up to the Eagle teen to rearrange the pieces of her fractured life and figure out who she is—and what she may become. At dawn on…
David Weiner refused to buy his son a bike. His objection wasn’t the cost or concern for his kid’s safety. After all, Weiner founded New York City-based Priority Bicycles to provide average Janes and Joes with easy-button bicycles that would encourage people to ride more. But shopping for his toddler son, Jake, he discovered a sea…
You can now discover the other Caribbean on Dominica’s new long trail. But should you? The rumble coming from somewhere off in the rainforest should cue me to trouble. I’m hiking toward 275-foot Middleham Falls, the tallest cascade on the Caribbean island of Dominica, and I expect to see what I’d previewed in photos: A…
For Vail skiing prodigy and Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin, success can’t come fast enough. Adulthood, though–that can wait. There’s a section on Vail’s Golden Peak course that even good racers dread. It’s a steep rollover, usually covered with thick ice, that melts into a treacherous dip in the slope. Coach Simon Marsh remembers standing…
This article was a finalist for a 2014 Maggie Award for Best Profile. You may not recognize her face yet, but if this Eagle-Vail teenager slaloms to gold at Sochi, her superstar status will rival Lindsey Vonn’s. Meet Mikaela Shiffrin, the girl next door who just might be America’s best skier. Ever. “Give me some…
Strong interviewing skills and engaging writing helped me compose an annual report for National Parks Conservation Association that thrilled the organization’s leadership. I interviewed NPCA’s president and board chair to craft their opening letter, spoke with topic experts and donors to represent key NPCA achievements, and introduced the recipients of NPCA’s annual awards in a…
In advance of the 2016 centennial of the National Park Service, National Parks Conservation Association asked me to compile a 64-page publication entitled The State of America’s National Parks, along with a 12-page Executive Summary. The report encapsulated a decade’s worth of research conducted by the Center for Park Research and articulated the Center’s recommendations…
Strong interviewing skills and engaging writing helped me compose an annual report for National Parks Conservation Association that thrilled the organization’s leadership. I interviewed NPCA’s president and board chair to craft their opening letter, spoke with topic experts and donors to represent key NPCA achievements, presented financial reports, and introduced the recipients of NPCA’s annual…